Cannes: New Europe Sells 'I Used to be Darker' to Germany and Austria

Warsaw-based boutique sales company New Europe Film Sales has sold Matt Porterfield's drama I Used to be Darker to Germany (Arsenal) and Austria (Stadtkino).

The film -- which has a Cannes market screening on Wednesday, May 22 -- was a hit with critics at Sundance and Berlin and has previously sold for theatrical release in the U.S. to Strand. Sundance Channel Global also picked it up for numerous territories.

Austria will release late this year and Germany in early 2014.

The film won backing from Europa Distribution at the last edition of regional indie U.S. focus, US in Progress in Wroclaw, Poland, meaning it is eligible for financial support for distribution through Europa Distribution International.

Wroclaw is also host to Poland's biggest film festival, the T-Mobile New Horizons IFF, the 13th edition of which will be held in July; on May 16 it announced its juries in three out of the four competitions.

Jurors for Films on Art International Competition, which carries a $13,000 prize and a distribution guarantee, include MOMA curator Sally Berger; the Polish Shorts section includes Laurence Reymond of Cannes Directors' Fortnight; and the European Shorts has Ana Brzezinska among other directors.

The main competition jury and lineup are due to be announced next month. The festival runs July 18-28 and this year it will focus on French Neo-Baroque (Besson, Beineix, Carax), the works of Walerian Borowczyk, Hans-Jürgen Syberberg, new Russian cinema and classic and new cyberpunk. The festival’s key industry event, Polish Days, runs July 24-26.